YELLOW SPRINGS — Yellow Springs’ World House Choir has been selected to receive a cut of over $20 million in grants to arts organizations as part of the Ohio Arts Economic Relief Grant Program.
According to the Department of Development in Ohio, the World House Choir is one of 104 organizations in the state selected and will be receiving $4,726.92. World House Choir is the only organization in Greene County that has been chosen for this grant.
This is the second round of economic relief for the Ohio Arts Economic Relief Grant Program, and after these grants, the running total will be $43 million distributed to 243 organizations.
“Ohio artists and arts organizations make our state an attractive place to live, work, and raise a family,” Gov. Mike DeWine said in a release. “Ohio is the heart of it all — and by supporting the arts, we continue to ensure artistic excellence.”
The intended use of these grants are for employee compensation, recruitment and training, as well as operating costs and rent for the building.
“Through these grants, we’re promoting creativity and quality of life,” said Lt. Governor Jon Husted. “These resources help people take pride in their local communities and create places where people want to live, work and play.”
“Ohio’s arts and culture are big business in the heart of the heartland,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development. “By supporting these organizations, we’re supporting the business of art, which is essential for economic growth but also essential for creating vibrant and diverse communities.”
World House Choir was founded in 2012 by Dr. Catherine Roma and includes around 65 resident singers.
According to Roma, the group used be composed of around 110 choir members, but due to some participants leaving or going on an extended hiatus due to the pandemic, these number have dropped.
“It’s not over, but we seem to be moving into a new phase with the pandemic,” she said. Roma is hopeful that the grant money, as well as the COVID downturn, will help World House Choir regain those lost numbers.
As for the funds, Roma said most of it will go to the upcoming 10th anniversary event, a three-concert series set for late September this year.
“We’re going to use it for that purpose,” she said. “And we can do it with more breathing room.”
World House Choir also provides free childcare for choir members, and there is no required fee for entrance into any of their concerts; instead, they ask those who can donate to do so, in the name of accessibility and sharing resources with one another.
The next performance from World House Choir is on July 17 in celebration of Juneteenth. The group will walk from Yellow Springs High School to Mills Lawn School beginning at 10:30 a.m.
“We want everyone to come,” said Roma.
Contact Ethan Charles at 937-502-4532.
